Calendar makes a date with history of the Coast

IT is the Sunshine Coast as many people have never seen it – a Mooloolaba skyline free of tall buildings and the Noosa River as an untamed wilderness.

The 2010 calendar produced by Sunshine Coast Libraries is set to amaze locals and visitors alike with its depiction of the region’s early years through a series of photographs – many of them recently acquired from private collections.

From a bush picnic in Caloundra in the early 1900s to a record-breaking 206kg fish caught on the Noosa River in 1935, the Places We Make – Communities of the Sunshine Coast calendar includes photos of many historical aspects of life on the Coast. The photos were sourced from the libraries’ extensive photo collection, Picture Sunshine Coast, and historical pictures sent in by local residents.

Community policy and programs portfolio holder, councillor Jenny McKay, said residents had embraced the chance to contribute photos to the libraries’ collection.

“There are so many photos from the early years of the region that still exist, often gathering dust in old photo albums or tucked away in the back of cupboards,” the fourth generation local said.

“It’s wonderful that residents have been so eager to share their photos with council libraries.

“It gives current generations a chance to see what life was like on the Coast, and how much it has changed, for their families or communities around the region over the last century.”

Council’s learning communities manager, Ross Duncan, said libraries had received a huge response from residents to its call for photos earlier this year.

“When libraries put out a call for historical photos, we never imagined that we would receive such a positive response from our community,” Ross said.

“We received more than 600 photos and the quality was so high that we decided to produce a calendar that would enable the entire community to learn more about the history of the Coast. The calendar should appeal to locals and visitors alike, and remind us that we all chose to visit the Coast because of the unspoilt environment.”

The calendar was coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Libraries and funded by a Queensland Government Q150 community grant.

Copies are selling for $10 each at council libraries, customer service centres and visitor information centres.

“It’s wonderful that residents have been so eager to share their photos”